Improvement in gun-stocks



W. BURNETT.

Gun Stock.

Pabented Jan. 7, 1862.

MPETEES, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES Parent.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUN STOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 3%,93, dated January '7, 1862.

"7Q all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BURNETT, 0 Boston, in the county of Suffolk, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in lIllSkOtS; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a suitable hand-hold at or near the breech of amusket or other like fire-arm furnished with a sword or bayonet, which will render the instrument more effective in ahandto hand encounter, as, when exigency requires, a longer reach may. be obtained, and

a thrust may be made with greater central force and certainty of effect, while a firm hold of the musket is still secured.

. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are a. side and top view of a musket constructed on nryimproved plan. Fig. 3 is asectiou through A B, Fig. 1.

This 'musket is constructedthroughout in the usual manner, except that the breech is provided with a suitable opening, G. into which, as opportunity may offer, the hand may be readily inserted, and al'irin hold of the runs ket being thus secured at its extreme end it may be launched or thrust forward with great force and rapidity, and with a reach far beyond that which can be obtained with a musrior effect will be quite apparent to those familiar with the use of such arms, and in the hands of infantry practiced in its use it will be a weapon of the most formidable character. The

end of the stoclg'which would be otherwiseweakened by reason ofthe opening 0 made through it, is suitably strengthened by a cap or sheathing of metal, I), which isfirmly secured to the stock by screws. The wood E of the hand-held is separate from the stock, the fibers running longitudinal with the opening 0.

Fig. t exhibits another mode of construction, which may be adopted, and is perhaps preferable to that just described, as the dimensions correspond to those now employed in the construction of ordinary muskets, while .all necessary strength is secured. The metal strap or mounting F iszfitted nicely to thestock and secured by proper screws. The wood G, which forms the round of the hand-hold is also held firmly in place by screws. Instead of this wood G sheet metal may be employed, the same being bent into proper form and then brazed firmly into its place.

The opening through the stock might, if desired, be made longitudinally, as represented in Fig. 4t-by dotted lines H, and wouldsub' serve a good purpose in many cases by lengthening the reach and furnishing a more secure hold, the hand-hold thus provided being also used as occasion might suggest, instead of grasping the musket at the small of the stock .T, which is usual; or a combination of these two openings 0 and H in one might be employed, thereby securing all the advantages of each.

. I do not cdnfine myself to the precise form and arrari nient of the hand-hold as here re a P Providing a musket or other like fire-arm furnished with a sword or bayonet with a suitable hand-hole at or near the breech, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

V WM. BURNETT.

Witnesses:

ROBERT B. HINE, H. N. BROWN. 

